How wildlife conservatists combat poaching by injecting radioactive material into rhino horns

A South African university launched an anti-poaching initiative this week aimed at injecting rhino horns with radioactive isotopes, which it says are safe for the animals but easily detectable by customs officials.

The project, a collaboration between the University of the Witwatersrand, nuclear regulators, and wildlife conservationists, began with five rhinos receiving the treatment, as reported by NBC. 

The effort has been named the Rhisotope Project, with the university hoping to be able to include many more animals in the near future. 

Last year, around 20 rhinos at a wildlife sanctuary were injected during preliminary trials that set the stage for this week's official rollout. The radioactive material, even in very low amounts, can be picked up by radiation scanners at airports and border crossings, potentially leading to the arrest of poachers and traffickers.

Scientists at the university’s Radiation and Health Physics Unit say testing during the pilot program showed that the isotopes pose no harm to the animals.

“We have demonstrated, beyond scientific doubt, that the process is completely safe for the animal and effective in making the horn detectable through international customs nuclear security systems,” said James Larkin, chief scientific officer of the Rhisotope Project.

“Even a single horn with significantly lower levels of radioactivity than what will be used in practice successfully triggered alarms in radiation detectors,” Larkin said.

He added that the horns could also be identified inside fully loaded 40-foot cargo containers.

According to data cited in the article from the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the global rhino population stood at approximately 500,000 in the early 1900s, but due to black market demand for horns, that number has fallen to just 27,000.

South Africa is home to the largest number of rhinos—estimated at 16,000—but also suffers from extreme poaching levels, with about 500 killed annually for their horns.

A rhino’s horn is composed of keratin—the same protein found in human hair and nails—and continues to grow throughout its life. In various parts of Africa, conservation teams regularly trim rhino horns to deter poachers. When done correctly and not cut too close to the base, the procedure is painless for the animal.

By Nazrin Sadigova